Self-employment suggestions?

d2atTech

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Apr 15, 2009
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Speaking from a position of knowledge.....I'm in some related fields and I would tell you to skip this one. If you go the franchise route you will *never* make real money. If you go it alone as a startup in commercial/office cleaning you will have a very difficult time against said franchisees and illegals working for nothing. Illegals everywhere. Commercial cleaning is basically a commodity at this point.

Someone hit the nail on the head that you need to find something you have passion for....just saying I want to be my own boss with half your heart in it is a recipe for disaster.

great advice. something to keep in mind is that when you work for a business (as opposed to owning your own) someone else signs the paychecks and you have a contract that protects your finances. in most cases, it's much more stressful to try to make payroll for other folks than to have a workplace that isn't fun or a boss that is a dick.
 
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UKserialkiller

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Dec 13, 2009
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OP, instead of asking for ideas, how about you list the ones you've already come up with and let the Paddock **** on them, one by one.

I think that would make for a much better thread.
[laughing]

He's already listed one. Office cleaning.

Zencat- got another idea for ya. Go around to various apartment complexes and offer services to come pick the trash up at resident's front door. 5 days a week. Offer the apartment complex a cut to force the residents into a new trash service that they don't even want.
 

bluelifer

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Feb 25, 2009
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Good idea. I appreciate everyone's feedback. Thank you.

Seriously though, like the others have mentioned, it's probably best to go with something you're passionate about, or have a lot of knowledge/experience with. You'd probably get some good advice around here if you came with something specific.
 
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Deeeefense

Heisman
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Aug 22, 2001
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It's challenging but not impossible to start and build a small business with no experience, however for folks that have not had experience running a business a viable option is a Franchise. A franchise is sort of a cross between a business and a job. the Franchiser normally provides proven business plans, site selection, marketing materials, promotion & advertising, and in some cases name identity. Small business first year failure rates are nearly 90% but Franchises are only about 15%, so the odds are on your side. The downside of franchises, is you have to comply with their standards and operating procedures and of course, they take a small slice of the pie.

You might want to check out FRANNET:
 
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Captain Forehead

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Mar 11, 2009
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Start your own pallet repair service. It's pretty simple with low hours. Here's how it works. Get you a vehicle with will pull like a 16 foot trailer. Go around to all the factories and different business's that use pallets. Steal them. Then resell the pallets to a distributor. When someone catches you stealing the pallets just give them some lame excuse like, "so and so told me I could have these pallets because they were scrap." And don't worry about the police or going to jail. Even when someone shows the police a video of you stealing from them on their CC Security system, and you take them to where they are storing the pallets you stole, they won't do a damn thing about it. At least that's how it works in Elizabethtown.
 

ZenCatFan73

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Dec 19, 2015
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It's challenging but not impossible to start and build a small business with no experience, however for folks that have not had experience running a business a viable option is a Franchise. A franchise is sort of a cross between a business and a job. the Franchiser normally provides proven business plans, site selection, marketing materials, promotion & advertising, and in some cases name identity. Small business first year failure rates are nearly 90% but Franchises are only about 15%, so the odds are on your side. The downside of franchises, is you have to comply with their standards and operating procedures and of course, they take a small slice of the pie.

You might want to check out FRANNET:
Thanks!
 

Rex Kwon Do

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Oct 15, 2005
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Captain Forehead speaks the truth...you leave one skid outside they swarm like bees.

"Oh don't you remember me? (No)

"John said it was cool" (John was fired 8 years ago)
 
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bluelifer

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Feb 25, 2009
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Captain Forehead speaks the truth...you leave one skid outside they swarm like bees.

"Oh don't you remember me? (No)

"John said it was cool" (John was fired 8 years ago)

Apparently there's a pretty high demand for "rustic" wine racks made from ****** scrap wood soaked in methyl bromide.
 

ky8335

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Oct 29, 2005
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Here's a site with some information on some franchise opportunities:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500

I think one of the reasons there first year failure rate is so low is that many require you to have a large amount of cash on hand or a credit line available to keep you afloat.
 

Deeeefense

Heisman
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Aug 22, 2001
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Here's a site with some information on some franchise opportunities:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500

I think one of the reasons there first year failure rate is so low is that many require you to have a large amount of cash on hand or a credit line available to keep you afloat.

Maybe, but the bigger advantage is they have a proven business model that is working in other locations. That makes it easy to replicate in other locations with close to predictable results. Of course there are good and bad franchises but the good ones are so well thought out and proven that failure is almost always due to inept management on the part of the franchisee not due to anything lacking on the franchiser side.
 
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bluelifer

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Feb 25, 2009
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Here's a site with some information on some franchise opportunities:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500

I think one of the reasons there first year failure rate is so low is that many require you to have a large amount of cash on hand or a credit line available to keep you afloat.

The cash on hand requirement is not what causes the failure, it's actually meant to help prevent failure. It does however, prevent, and rightfully so, people from ever getting a franchise license to begin with.
 

Get Buckets

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Nov 4, 2007
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Maybe, but the bigger advantage is they have a proven business model that is working in other locations. That makes it easy to replicate in other locations with close to predictable results. Of course there are good and bad franchises but the good ones are so well thought out and proven that failure is almost always due to inept management on the part of the franchisee not due to anything lacking on the franchiser side.

Sounds pretty easy, what do you own?
 

Deeeefense

Heisman
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Aug 22, 2001
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Sounds pretty easy, what do you own?

I sold my last business which was not a franchise and retired. However I now do volunteer small business counseling and mentoring for a non profit so franchising is something I am somewhat familiar with.

Anyway, I'm not sure if I would call any business easy, it's going to require a lot of hard work, but with a franchise you have an organization to support you whereas if you start a biz on your own - it's all on you.
 

Get Buckets

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Nov 4, 2007
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I sold my last business which was not a franchise and retired. However I now do volunteer small business counseling and mentoring for a non profit so franchising is something I am somewhat familiar with.

Anyway, I'm not sure if I would call any business easy, it's going to require a lot of hard work, but with a franchise you have an organization to support you whereas if you start a biz on your own - it's all on you.

What was your business? Do you volunteer for SCOR?
 

AustinTXCat

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rmattox

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Buy a couple of lawn mowers at walmart along with a couple of gas powered weedeaters. Buy yourself a cheap riding mower while you're at it. Cost of around $1k. If you have a pick up, you can haul the rider. Hire a couple of middle school kids to help you. Go around knocking on doors. Find out what they paid to have their grass cut last year. Under cut the price by $5. After the competition dies off, raise your price.

I know guys around here that mow from March through Oct and have enough money to live in Fla for the winter.
 

crazyqx83_rivals88013

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What about something with low startup that could generate income quick?
 

JimmyWa11

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Somebody else mentioned Rodan and Fields. I know a guy making $30k/year but his wife is now making over $10,000/month selling Rodan and Fields. If you're married it may be something worth looking into, especially if you or your wife know a lot of people.
 

AustinTXCat

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Jan 7, 2003
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OP, here's an idea that a couple British entrepreneurs are running with: selling smog-choked Chinese some fresh English air. They claim to have sold 100 jars at $115 each. Watch the video. You might compete with some fresh Kentucky air gathered way out in the country. Hey, exports are good!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It matters not what we have, but rather how well we utilize what we already have.
 
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AustinTXCat

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Jan 7, 2003
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I have a cousin in FL who has operated his own window cleaning business for over 40 years. His primary money makers are private homes, especially elderly folks, and commercial accounts where he cleans storefront windows weekly on a morning route. He's earned enough $$ over the years to purchase 4 houses, two of which are currently rented.
 

bluelifer

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Feb 25, 2009
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Somebody else mentioned Rodan and Fields. I know a guy making $30k/year but his wife is now making over $10,000/month selling Rodan and Fields. If you're married it may be something worth looking into, especially if you or your wife know a lot of people.

Is his wife Rodan or Fields?
 

Tinker Dan

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Jan 31, 2006
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hahha

Well, you know during deaths no one wants to cook... Ashes and pizza is awesome
I tried to talk our Funeral Director into buying a local bank building and having a drive through visitation..... For you "mourners on the go"

To his credit he really does have to much class for that. But we got a good belly laugh out of it.